[Hallicrafters] Alligator wrestling in the Swamp

[John King]

Howdy folks. There has been some discussion of the Hallicrafters HT 33A on the list over the last few days.

Down here in Louisiana we find ourselves faced with wrestling an Alligator every now and then. That is a job because they are big and have nothing to grab onto. Thirty minutes of wrestling an alligator is like working on a Hallicrafters HT 33A for two hours.

I bought a HT33A about five years ago in Chambersburg, Pa. near Gettysburg and it has been on the shelf  since I got it home. When I bought it, I knew that the HV capacitor in the power supply needed replacing because there was heavy/sticky PCB oil
 everywhere.  I am going to replace the capacitor tomorrow.

I have some oil filled caps but an thinking of using series electrolytic caps on a board in place of the oil cap. Not original, but dependable.

This amplifier
 is so covered with tar and nicotine that I thought the chassis was GOLD anodized like the old WRL Galaxy 1 transceiver. I put cleaner on it with a brush and the gunk slid off on the floor and the result looks like burned motor oil out of a diesel engine.

The amplifier is a monster and picking it up is like picking up a very large rock. I think at my age, I need  a forklift in my shop. I believe what little manhood I had just got up and went. 160 pound amps will strain you and Grandmaw.

What do you think of eliminating the oil filled cap and taking the electrolytic route. I know, I need to repent for such blasphemy!!!   73, John, K5PGW